Life Is Beautiful
1998
Guido has won the heart of the woman he loves and created a beautiful life for his family but that life is now threatened by World War II. Italian dialogue. Read more
| Starring | Roberto Benigni, Nicoletta Braschi |
|---|---|
| Director | Roberto Benigni |
| Run time | 122 mins |
| Genres | Drama |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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Is this a glowing tribute to humanity in extremis, or an ill-judged trivialisation of pitiless barbarism? Both verdicts have been passed on Roberto Benigni's multi-award-winning film. However, while the sensitivities of those supporting the latter view have to be taken into account, it would be wrong to deny that there were moments of simple joy and treasurable intimacy even at the height of the Holocaust. The opening section, charting Benigni's courtship of the imperious Nicoletta Braschi, is delightful. It also serves as a poignant backdrop for the nightmare to follow, as Benigni tries to shelter his son from the bitterest of truths. The result is courageous, humanistic film-making.
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A bold and brave film, and one well worth seeing, despite some rather contrived slapstick in the early sequences; yet, in the end, clowning does not merely seem an inappropriate response to the realities of a concentration camp, but the wrong response.
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Most helpful member's review
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76 out of 79 people found this review helpful
Watch It
Starting off as a light hearted comedy and progressing in to an amusing and engaging look at some very dark subject matter, Life is Beautiful is almost two movies in one, with both relying on the central performance of Roberto Benigini.
This is one of the most amusing and engaging movies I have seen for some time. It has been claimed this movie mocks the holocaust, but in reality only those with the most closed of minds could possibly argue this having watched the movie. Simply because the movie is light hearted does not mean that the viewer will not sympathise with the characters involved here and in fact this will probably have a bigger emotional impact on you than any number of darker films.
Funny, Enjoyable and Moving. A must see for everyone. -
Most recent members' review
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18 out of 18 people found this review helpful
One of the best ever
I cannot understand the people who rated this film on a low grade. They obviously missed the subtlety of it all. The father, a born comedian,simply wants to be happy with his princess. However from an early stage there loom hints of tradgedy; jackboots and nazi salutes and one feels for our Jewish hero and his family. The father is indeed a true hero, he carries his humour into hell on earth and by doing so protects his wife and son at an incalculable cost to himsef; how anyone can say he is sinister is beyond me. If trying to keep the dreadful truth from one's child that relatives are being made into soap and buttons is sinister then I have obviously got it wrong. The version I saw was Italian with subtitles, a Christmas present. I don't know whether the effect would have been the same if I had seen it dubbed as Italian is such an expressive language. This is one not to miss, a work of genius.
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News and features
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Rush Hour 3
- 06 Aug 2007
I can just about understand what the French see in Jerry Lewis, why the Americans embraced Roberto Benigni in Life Is Beautiful, and how some people believe Lee Evans is a comedy genius. But Chris Tucker I just don't get. Least, not as Detective James Carter in the Rush Hour films, which is the only role he's played in the last decade. (I seem to remember I enjoyed seeing him get shot in the trunk in Jackie Brown.) They paid him $25 million to reprise this role for second time, so it's obvious Read more
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